Email   Print   Share By Heather Graham-Ashley, Sentinel News Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious August 9, 2012 | News

In this file photo, members of the III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs Office man the phone center during a town hall practice session Jan. 12. The next Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall is set for Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Sentinel file photo

III Corps and Fort Hood leaders will host their second multimedia community town hall event Tuesday.

The event will again combine social media outlet Facebook with live television and Internet radio broadcasts in an attempt to engage as wide of an audience as possible.

Soldiers, Family members and community members are invited to submit their questions on the III Corps and Fort Hood Facebook page 5-7 p.m. Tuesday.

Questions will be answered on Facebook and live on television 6-7 p.m. by III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. and a panel of experts. When the telephone lines open for questions, the number to call will be posted on the III Corps and Fort Hood Facebook page, at FortHoodRadio.com, and on KCEN’s MYTX throughout the broadcast.

The television portion of the town hall will air on KCEN’s MYTX channel 6.2, Time Warner Cable channel 132, and it will stream live on Facebook. Audio from the town hall will stream on FortHoodRadio.com.

The first multimedia community town hall held in January at Fort Hood elicited more than 400 questions on Facebook and dozens of phone calls. This town hall will mimic the first, but leaders hope to build on the success of the January event.

“Fort Hood has a winning formula when it comes to town halls. By using a multimedia platform, we’re able to reach a large number of participants, including those at Fort Hood and our Fort Hood Soldiers who are currently deployed,” Campbell said.

Utilizing social media for the town hall engaged a wider audience than the former strictly television town hall format.

“The January town hall was a great success,” Christie Vanover, chief, command information, Fort Hood Public Affairs, said. “We reached 100,000 people through Facebook and more than 2,000 were actively involved. We couldn’t ever come close to that interaction in person.”

With the growing presence of followers on Facebook, leaders are expecting an even larger turnout than earlier this year.

“Since January, Facebook continues to be a growing medium for Fort Hood. We have more than 17,000 followers, and in July, our messages had more than 4 million impressions,” Vanover said. “By using Facebook, we’re able to reach out in so many ways. Parents can participate without hiring a sitter. Soldiers can interact from their smartphones at a local

restaurant. And those who want to be even more active, can call in and request to speak to the

general and his panel of experts personally.”

Campbell and other leaders are hoping all of those with a vested interest in the post take the opportunity to engage them.

With the corps’ mission not only to train Soldiers for combat, but also to care for those Soldiers and their Families, Campbell hopes to open dialogue about how to adequately care for those at Fort Hood.

This town hall comes at a time when Armywide, leaders are looking to find best practices and improve perceived deficiencies.

“Recently, I met with the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and we discussed ways to reach out to enhance the health of the force,” the general said. “It is essential for me to hear from our Soldiers, Families and civilians, so I know what we’re doing right and what areas need improvement. Their input and participation in this town

hall ensure the Fort Hood team is poised to remain strong and ready.”

After the town hall ends, leaders and directorates will continue to work issues and concerns raised during the event.

“More than 100 of Fort Hood’s top officials will be standing by to respond via Facebook,” Vanover said, “and our goal is to have

every question answered by Aug. 17.”